“I have great respect for the first person who created a weapon.”
“It meant humanity had grasped a power that did not belong to the body, defying the natural course of evolution.”
Shingetsu gripped the blade and spoke calmly.
What the hell is this guy talking about?!
The Kumo Jōnin whose blade had been caught immediately let go, sprang back, and launched a volley of kunai.
“Do you know the most fundamental difference between humans and beasts?”
Like a shadow, Shingetsu appeared against his back and continued, “Beasts only adjust the direction of their evolution according to changes in their environment.”
“When oxygen levels rise, they grow larger.
When oxygen levels drop, they shrink to survive.”
“Humans are different.”
“These completely self-centered creatures try to reshape the environment into something suited for their own survival.”
“To be born human is truly remarkable…
isn’t it?”
The smile on the boy’s lips grew wilder, more terrifying and twisted.
A nameless fear seized the Kumo ninja’s body and mind.
“You bastard…
what the hell are you talking about?!”
Shingetsu’s smile faded, but in the Kumo ninja’s eyes, that calm expression was even more frightening.
The wind fell still.
Only Shingetsu’s quiet chant could be heard.
“Withered Bones.
The flame that burns the body is born from the heart.
Pierce the throat and scorch the eyes.
Tear open the orifices and release calamity.
Secret Fire Cage: Garuda Flame Exhaustion, complete!”
“Let me say it again…”
“I’ve mastered it!”
A crimson light flared in his Sharingan, and he raised his hand and clenched it.
BOOM!!
In an instant, an indescribable searing agony swept through the Kumo ninja’s body and mind, so intense that even this Jōnin who had lived through the First Shinobi World War could not endure it.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!”
The heart-rending scream made everyone shudder, as if they could feel his pain themselves.
Then, soon after.
Whoosh!
Crimson flames surged wildly from his eyes, ears, and mouth, burning him to ash from the inside out.
Even his screams were consumed by the fire.
The sight was difficult to stomach even for the Kirigakure ninja, who were used to a cruel promotion system.
Death itself did not frighten them.
But a way of dying that could make a battle-hardened ninja scream like that…
Step by step, the ground beneath Shingetsu’s feet was scorched black by the flames leaking from him.
Watching the boy approach, bathed in karmic fire, they retreated again and again.
Shingetsu wore the smile of a child who had just received a favorite toy.
“So that’s how it is…”
“Clearly sensing the existence of spiritual energy feels this wonderful.”
“Don’t be afraid.”
Shingetsu stopped and said seriously, “If fear rises in your heart, it will hurt even more when you burn.”
In everyone’s ears, that demonic voice sounded once more.
“Withered Bones.”
Smack!
A broad hand pressed down on Shingetsu’s shoulder.
“That’s enough.
We still need living prisoners to interrogate for information.”
“And besides…
you scared that child.”
“Since the Clan Head has spoken…”
Shingetsu lowered his hand and shrugged.
“Then we’ll leave it at that.”
“Wait, Shingetsu!”
Iwamasa Uchiha called out to him.
The Uchiha Clan Head was a powerfully built man with sharp cheekbones.
An old battle scar ran from the tip of his nose to his graying temples, making his already stern presence seem even colder.
But unlike his grave, unyielding appearance, Iwao was a reserved and gentle elder who cared for every member of the clan.
It was out of respect for him that Shingetsu had not gone too far with Fugaku.
Emotion churned in Iwamasa’s deep-set eyes.
Even someone as composed as him could not fully suppress the turmoil in his heart.
“Is it…
what I think it is?”
Shingetsu smiled faintly.
“Have a little confidence in your own eyes, old man.”
“Something this simple is only natural for me!”
Using language to guide intangible spiritual energy, the Power of the Pupil, and give tangible commands to Earth Grudge Fear.
To put it more simply…
If external chakra was a wild horse, then Shingetsu had grasped the reins.
For now, he had only just begun to master it.
He still needed long chants to strengthen his own conviction, which meant the windup was too long, and he had to describe the effects of the Cursed Technique in as much detail as possible.
Later, he should be able to simplify it.
Perhaps one syllable would be enough to issue a command.
Good thing I have the physical foundation to chant slowly.
Otherwise, I’d get beaten to death before I even finished reciting the whole menu.
…
That…
How could chakra like that exist…
There wasn’t the slightest hint of goodwill in it.
Only pure, destructive malice!!
Kushina Uzumaki, born with enormous chakra, had extremely sharp perception.
Ordinary people could only see the surface, the Kumo ninja being consumed by flames.
But she “saw” something far more terrifying.
Black-red, indescribably twisted claws had surged out of the Sharingan and wrapped around that Kumo ninja.
When the chant ended, the movement of that phantom thing was…
“Th-That motion…”
Kushina murmured, so absorbed that she did not even notice Shingetsu walking up beside her.
“Lighting a fire.”
Shingetsu said flatly, “If you can’t think of a good way to describe it, you’ve seen the old men in your clan light cigarettes, haven’t you?”
“Replace the person with tobacco, and it’s easier to understand.”
“Right!
It’s kind of…
ah!”
Kushina was so startled that she fell onto her rear, scrambling several meters back with both hands and feet.
“I wasn’t expecting thanks, but you don’t have to be that scared.
What am I, some kind of evil ghost?”
In the eyes of people with the Byakugan or strong perception like this, what do I even look like?
Is there some kind of underworld filter on me?
“I…
I’m sorry…”
Kushina realized how rude she had been.
Then she remembered that she was in an unfamiliar place now, surrounded by unfamiliar people.
She could not act as willfully as she had back in her village.
Shingetsu approached Kushina as if it were nothing and gently patted her shoulder, comforting her.
“It’s all right.
My name is Shingetsu Uchiha.”
“I’m the disciple of The Third Hokage’s disciple.
You can think of me as Konoha’s successor.
I’ll be the bridge that connects people’s hearts.”
As he spoke, threads of Power of the Pupil, invisible to the naked eye, seeped from Shingetsu’s fingertips into Kushina’s body.
You…will be the bridge that supports my communication with the Nine-Tails in the future.
Being able to cast jutsu through speech is certainly subtle, but that look in her eyes…
she doesn’t think I’m some lunatic who likes spouting nonsense, does she?
“Stay away from that child.”
A figure stepped out of the forest, his face dark, his eyes carrying an indescribably complicated look.
Danzō Shimura.
“Shingetsu Uchiha…
what special ability do your eyes have?
What was that technique just now?
Tell me.”
Shingetsu smiled without really smiling and stayed silent for a moment.
“Hokage-sama’s Assistant, you were lucky to be born when you were.”
Danzō’s brow furrowed.
“What do you mean?”
“A few decades earlier…”
The corner of Shingetsu’s mouth lifted slightly.
“Those words alone would have been enough for the Uchiha to wipe out the Shimura Clan.”
Even facing Danzō Shimura, with numerous ANBU behind him, Shingetsu showed no fear in his eyes.
Only brazen defiance.